Stay Cool — Jack’s Words Of Wisdom

Let's face it, we live in Buffalo, a city that endures long winters and short summers.

So when the temperature reaches anything above 75 degrees and the breeze we're spoiled with is gone, the days get longer and the means of staying cool and keeping cool get harder to come by.

Whether you're making your daily commute on the NFTA, working downtown or a stay-at-home parent looking to enjoy the warm weather with your child, here are some tips on keeping cool while the Queen City gets hot.

For the commuter: Make sure you carry a plastic or aluminum water bottle to keep yourself hydrated while waiting or traveling to your NFTA metro or bus stop. Bringing your own bottle eliminates the hassle of running into a store last minute (so that you don't miss your train/bus) or having those two dollars add up at the end of the week. Some bottles also come with clips to attach to your purses or backpacks, to lessen the hassle of another daily accessory.

Luckily, the NFTA busses and trains have fully functioning air conditioners, so you won't have to worry about sweating up a storm while commuting, but keeping yourself hydrated while waiting is extremely important for your health and comfort during hot summer days.

For the handymen: For those of you who work in outdoor professions, like contractors or landscapers, it's important to keep the sun from harming your skin or eyesight, so hats, sunglasses and sunscreen are crucial. While your typical baseball hat might be the most convenient option, sun hats with wide brims are your best bet to stay comfortable while staying cool. Home Depot, Dick's and other outdoor stores have a wide variety of hats for trendy handymen, so take your pick and stay cool. Polarized sunglasses are also best when working outdoors because the filter on polarized lenses absorbs harmful UV rays and averts them from your eyes.

For the stay-at-home mom: Stay at home mothers have no reason to not enjoy their time outdoors either. A great way to spend time with your kids is by taking them to parks or for simple walks around your neighborhood. Be wary, however, and bring the appropriate sunscreen for you and your child. Stores such as Wal-Mart and Target have a variety of kids' sunscreen, as well as sunscreen for adults to prevent sunburn. For extended outdoor activities, be sure to bring a thermal or cooler for your child's bottle. Some brands even offer thermal bottles to keep milk warm or cold, and can be found at stores such as Target as well.

For the student: While school is out for most students, there are still a select few who are working to get their last-minute credits or taking a step ahead of their peers. Travelling with a backpack full of books or a laptop gets tiring, so be sure to distribute that weight appropriately, whether with a laptop bag or carrying some books to take the pressure off your back (literally ,of course). Carrying a handkerchief or small towel with you is also a great way to get rid of any sweat, since we all know trekking through campus is hard enough. Also, be sure to keep hydrated, and most college campuses now have designated water-fill stations for reusable bottles, so take advantage of those.

Have a silly or embarrassing story, or some great advice, you want to share with readers? Email your stories to angela.stefano@townsquaremedia.com, and you could be featured in Jack’s Words of Wisdom!